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Loyola community mobilizes to bring 'Hope to Haiti'

January 15, 2010

The Loyola University New Orleans community is uniting to respond to the devastation of the Haitian earthquake through a variety of events, fundraising and spiritual support for Haitians and their loved ones abroad. Several Loyola students, alumni, faculty and staff are Haitian or have family members directly impacted by the earthquake.

Realizing the immediate need for aid in the relief efforts, the Hope for Haiti task force was assembled Friday morning to identify relief resources and plan for a sustained aid effort to the island nation and to community members affected by the tragedy.

The University Counseling Center is available 24 hours a day to respond to students and employees who need help coping with the crisis or who may be recalling painful memories of Katrina by watching coverage from Haiti. Counselors can be reached from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., by calling 504-865-3835 or visiting Room 208 of the Danna Student Center. To reach an on-call counselor after hours, call the Loyola University Police Department at 504-865-3434.

On Saturday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m., in Roussel Hall, Loyola will host a free concert dedicated to Haiti at which audience members can donate funds toward the relief effort and learn the ways they can help the Haitian people. The concert, led by Loyola Director of Orchestras and Haitian emigre Jean Montes, was actually planned far in advance of the earthquake as a joint performance of the New Orleans Youth Orchestra, the Loyola Symphony Orchestra and the Cornell University Orchestra. Cornell musicians came to New Orleans as part of a service project to help Hurricane Katrina victims.

While the concert is free, Montes said he hopes the music will inspire the audience into action.

“We will let the music and the moment speak for itself and let those who hear it decide what to do to help.” Montes said.

Sigma Alpha Iota, the Loyola women’s music fraternity, will staff a table with information on a host of reputable relief organizations. Audience members may also donate to the Loyola University Office of Mission and Ministry, which will send funds to the Jesuit Refugee Service, which provides humanitarian assistance on the island.

The Hope for Haiti task force is also planning a prayer service, a music benefit on Feb. 26, and arrangements for long-term Haitian aid from the university community.

For now, donations can be made to the Office of Mission and Ministry or by visiting the following organizations:

For more information on Loyola’s relief efforts or to donate, contact Kurt Bindewald, director of University Ministry at 504-865-2083 or kjbindew@loyno.edu or Robert Reed, assistant vice president for Student Affairs at 504-865-3737 or rareed@loyno.edu.

Loyola at a Glance is written and distributed for the faculty, staff, students and friends of Loyola University New Orleans. It is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Greenville Hall, Box 909, 7214 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. (504) 861-5888.

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